Fodder-cutter



(Mode1.) Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. WAGONER. FODDBR CUTTER N 264.800. Patented vSept. '19, 1882.

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r, Wawhi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIJAH VVAGONER, OE WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND.

FQDDER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,800, datedSeptember 19, 1882.

Application filed May 31, 1882. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH VVAGONER, of Westminster, in the countyofOarroll, and in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Straw-Gutters and Corn-Fodder Masticators; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for cuttingstraw, hay, and other materials, or forcutting and, masticating ordisintegrating fodder-such as cornstalks with the earsintact-and othersimilar cereals, as more fully hereinafter specified. These objects Iattain by the apparatus and mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in-

which- Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved machine with thetop removed; Fig.2, a detached view of thefeed-gear; Fig. 3, apartialside elevation and vertical section of the machine with the top inplace, and Fig.4adetached view of the removable sector forming part ofthe apparatus. Fig. 5 is a side view ofthe removable sector N, having alug, N by which it is secured to the frame of the machine and held in avertical position. This sector isprovided with a row of saw-liketeetli,P, adapted to permit the teeth ofthe wheel D to pass in closeproximity without touching, and to keep the straw, hay, or othermaterial within the machine, and thus be subjected to the action of theteeth of the wheel D and semicircular plate I.

The letter Aindicat-esa box orcasingmounted or supported in a suitableframe, B, the said box or casingbeing provided with a cap or coveradapted to inclose a portion of the upper parts of the working mechanismof the apparatus. The upper edges of the frame B or the upper edges ofthe box A are provided with boxes or bearings for the journals of atransverse shaft, 0, upon which is mounted a disk or wheel, D, which isrecessed on one face, and on the other is provided with a series ofteeth or maslicators, as indicated by the letter E. The said shaft 0projects at one side of the casing, and has rigidly secured to it apinion,'F, which intergcars with a cogdicated.

wheel, G, on thedriving shaft ll of the machine, which is provided withdriving-cranks I, by means of which power may be applied to theapparatus. The wheel 1) is slotted radially, as indicated by the letterK, and is provided with a radially-located cutter, L, as in- Althoughbut oneslotandcutterare represented, it is evident that more may beemployed, as maybe found convenient.

The letter' M indicates a worm on the shaft H, which intergears with apinion, N, on a shaft, P, extending longitudinally along the outer sideof the box or casiiig and journaled in bearings R. Thesaidshaftisprovided with a drum or roller, S, over which passes afeedbelt, T, which also passes around a drum, U, journaled near theforward end of a feedtrough, V, which is detachably secured to thebrackets in which the forward journals of the shaft P run. The saidtrough, between the return portions of the belt, is provided with aplatform, V, which is secured by meansofthe pins Vv' and Y, the pins-Ybeinghooked at their outer ends, so as to sit over projections on thetrough and secure it to the machine.

The shaft P is provided at one end with a pinion, A, which intergearswith a pinion, B, on a short shaft, 0, journaled in bearings D, attachedto the casing of the apparatus. The said shaft is provided with asquaredend,which fits in asimilarlydormed socket at the end ofa rod, E, whichis formed with a similar socket at the other end, which oversits thesquared end of thejournal of a corrugated feed-roller, F, which journalruns in vertically open or slotted bearings G, as indicated, so as topermit the said roller to rise and fall or adjustitself automatically tothcmaterial to be manipulated. The journal of said feedroller F is heldnormally on opposite sides by means of the springs H, which cause theroller to bear upon the material passing underit with proper pressure.

The letter 1 indicates a semicircular plate, provided with teeth or masticators, and located opposite the toothed side of the rotatingcutter-wheel, before mentioned, at the lower half thereof. The saidplate is confined in place in any convenient manner, and divides thelower portion of the casing into longitudinal compartments L M.

N indicates a detachable segment, which is adapted to be secured abovethe edge of the semicircular plate, above mentioned, forward of theshaft on which the cuttin g-wheelis mounted, the said segment beingprovided with a series of serrations, P, on its vertical edge, and witha rim, R, on its curved edge, as indicated.

The shaft 0 is provided with a pulley, S, which connects by a belt, '1",with a pulley on a shaft, U, over which passes the bands of a travelingelevator,V,runningin an inclined trough, W, by means of which thematerial operated upon may be carried off.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connectionwith the above description, and is as follows: When the apparatus isdesigned simply to cut straw, hay, or other material the segment abovementioned is removed, and as the material is cut it is thrown directlyinto the casing and falls upon the elevator, and is carried out by thesame. When fodder is to be cut and masticated or disintegrated also thesegment is inserted, which causes the material to pass between thetoothed surfaces of the cutting-wheel and the semicircular disk, bywhich it is carried downward and subjected to the action of the teethbefore being discharged.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

In a straw-cutting machine,thecombination of the rotary cutting-wheel Dand the semicircular masticator I with the removable sector N, havinglug N rim R, and vertical row of saw-shaped teeth P, adapted to permitthe teeth of the wheel D to pass in close proximity without touching, asshown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaifix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 26th day ofMay, 1882.

ELIJAH WVAGONER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. D. DAVIS, J. J. MCCARTHY.

